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The effect of sex on rehabilitation for stroke has been debated. To evaluate sex differences, Italian investigators compared 440 first-time ischemic stroke patients, grouped by sex and matched for stroke severity, age, and onset-to-admission interval.
Patients participated in twice-daily 60-minute physical rehabilitation sessions 6 days per week. Speech and occupational therapy were provided as needed. At baseline, men were significantly more likely to be hypertensive and to have completed more years of education and women were almost twice as likely to be depressed.
At discharge, similar percentages of men and women could walk without assistance (26%) or required a wheelchair (34% and 36%, respectively). However, men had significantly higher…